Bollywood couple, Richa Chadha and Ali Fazal are both hailed for their acting prowess. However, for their latest film, Girls Will Be Girls, the duo donned new hats as producers and pulled out all the stops to make it a success, even breaking their FDs to fund the project. Their efforts came to fruition when the film ended up wowing audiences at the esteemed Sundance and other equally reputed film festivals. The movie was then released to the streaming platform, Amazon Prime Video on December 18, 2024. Recently, Richa and Ali opened up about what it took to get the project rolling, with the former addressing audience remarks that Bollywood would never touch such a film.
Richa Chadha says Bollywood is an imaginary concept held by ‘15 families between Bandra and Goregaon’
When the trailer for Girls Will Be Girls was first released on YouTube, audiences remarked that Bollywood would never touch a film like this due to its subject matter. In a recent chat with the Hindustan Times, actress-producer, Richa Chadha was asked for her opinion on what they had said. In her response, she stated that she felt Bollywood itself was ‘very imaginary,’ saying:
“Fifteen families between Bandra and Goregaon think of themselves as Bollywood. But actually, it’s not a real geographical location. It’s the Hindi film industry, and that keeps changing and evolving. It keeps including new people.”
Richa further noted that a film like Girls Will Be Girls finding a space on a mainstream streaming platform like Amazon Prime Video was a huge win and a sign that times were changing. She further noted that her and Ali’s involvement in the film was likely a huge help in securing this achievement but it was amazing nonetheless.
Ali Fazal opens up about their struggles in finding financial backers for Girls Will Be Girls
Ali Fazal and Richa Chadha have been open about their struggles while trying to secure financial backing for Girls Will Be Girls from the onset. According to Ali, whenever they reached out to someone, they could sense that they were expecting to make their money back, and then some. In the actor-producer’s words:
“When we were taking the film to get made, we would reach out to different people; you get a sense that everyone wants to make their money back. It’s an investment. With big films, you have your A-listers, and you know there will be something coming back. Here, you don’t know the fate of the film.”
Ali further stated that he was glad to have stuck by the project despite those challenges. He noted that such ‘teething issues’ were part of the package as they were just finding their ‘footing in world cinema.’ However, Ali was proud and happy to have ‘championed a script’ like Girls Will Be Girls. For the uninitiated, the film follows the story of a schoolgirl trying to find a balance between academics and her first love, all the while navigating a complicated relationship with her mother.
When Ali Fazal revealed he and Richa Chadha broke their FDs to produce Girls Will Be Girls
In a recent edition of Screen LIVE, Richa Chadha and Ali Fazal sat for a candid chat about Girls Will Be Girls, which was the first film they ever produced. During the conversation, Ali emphasised that ideas should never be affected by the lack of funds, especially when they are in the growing phase. He further revealed the lengths to which he and Richa went to produce the film. Not only did they ask for financial support, but they even broke their Fixed Deposits to produce it. Ali can be quoted as saying:
“We are all from a country that is famous for its jugaad, its ability to figure out a way to get things done. Honestly, we asked for money from here and there, and even broke our FDs to fund Girls Will be Girls. But we managed. Now, it is getting a nice release, and many sections of audience are watching it. It is possible.”
What do you think about Richa Chadha and Ali Fazal’s remarks?
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